Scientists have a terrifying ‘hunting’ theory for why orcas are attacking boats

Scientists have a terrifying theory about why pods of orcas have been attacking boats.

According to The New York Times, a pod of orcas 'rammed' a sailboat off Spain's northwest coast earlier this week.

It's one of over 600 reports made of orcas interacting with boats over the last four years.

Another sailboat has been attacked by orcas (Getty Stock Image)

The sailboat, named the Amidala, was damaged in the attack, which left the two crew members stranded in the water.

After the terrifying incident, the team managed to send a distress call to the Finisterre Maritime Rescue Center and the sailboat - which managed to stay afloat in the attack - was returned back to the shore.

It's one of a number of recent attacks by orcas and now, scientists think they are beginning to understand why.

One theory claims that the orcas could be using the boats to practice their hunting techniques.

Which is a pretty scary thought.

The Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute (BDRI) in Spain, which has been keeping track of the rammings over the last four years, has explained why this could be a potential reason for the spate of attacks.

According to the research, the orca pods in Spain have been preying on Atlantic bluefin tuna.

In case you didn't know, these fish are absolutely huge and are capable of growing up to four meters long and 907 kilograms in weight.

They're also incredibly fast which in turn, makes them harder for the orcas to catch.

One theory suggests the orcas are practicing their hunting (Getty Stock Image)

Essentially, the concerning theory suggests that the pods of orcas are using the sailboats to practice their technique.

“Killer whales interacting with vessels possibly reflect manifestations of play behavior, a well-established trait in these highly intelligent mammals,” the BDRI paper states.

“Play provides opportunities for marine mammals to develop and refine both cognitive and physical skills.

“During interactions with vessels, killer whales have been documented engaging in diverse actions, such as strokes, corporal lever movement, and biting of varying intensity.

“These behaviors could potentially serve as an exercise for killer whales, where vessels act as stimuli for play, fostering cooperative techniques, preparing for pursuits of [Atlantic bluefin tuna], and facilitating improvements in motor skills, ultimately simulating hunting techniques.”

In the paper, which has been published in the journal Ocean & Coastal Management, the researchers explain that more needs to be done to fully understand why this is happening and what can be done moving forward.